Alaska phenom Oil Kings’ property

CALGARY – Lane Bauer’s Twitter biography (bauerpower7) simply states: “Signed by the Detroit Red Wings, they just don’t know it yet.”

At the rate this kid puts the puck in the net, it might not be long before they do know it ... or some other National Hockey League team does.

The Alaska Jr. Aces ace sniper had 43 goals in 41 games last season as a member of the Alaska 16AAA team. Now, as the youngest member (just 16 years old) of the Alaska 18AAA team, he entered the Mac’s tournament with 21 goals in 12 games.

Bauer added two more to that total in the club’s tournament opener on Wednesday — a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames.

His coach, Alaska bench boss Merit Waldrop, sums it up even more impressively.

“In the 100 or so games he’s played with me, he’s scored every game. Every single game. At least one.”

That streak was broken on Thursday, however, when the Vancouver NW Giants managed to hold Bauer off the scoresheet in a 4-1 victory that sent them to the top of Pool 1.

Still, it’s no wonder Bauer has already committed to an NCAA school — signing with AlaskaFairbanks, which, in the world of Alaska hockey was seen as a bit of a coup, considering he is from Anchorage and didn’t choose the local school.

Of course, Bauer may end up not choosing the NCAA at all. His Western Hockey League rights are held by the Edmonton Oil Kings, who’ve listed him and keep in regular contact.

“I’m not sure,” Bauer said on his playing home next season. “I’m just narrowing down my choices and it’s just between those two right now.”

If he goes the WHL route, he likely will improve his chances at being selected during the 2014 NHL entry draft.

If he wants to go the NCAA route in time for the 2014-15 season, look for him to find a Tier II junior landing spot for next September. Already, Alberta Junior Hockey League scouts are flocking; they were lined up to talk to him following Alaska’s opening game, where Bauer was, not surprisingly, named the star of the contest for the Aces.

“I’m hoping to go as far as I can and whatever happens, happens,” Bauer said. “I’m going to work as hard as I can.”

And that’s the key, something that Waldrop notices as a key characteristic in the youngster’s fibre.

“Natural goal scorer, great kid. He is the hardest worker in practice and in games, and the most skilled player,” said the 29-year-old coach, who is a former East Coast Hockey Leaguer who still fills in for the ECHL’s Alaska Aces when they need a body.

“I’ve been lucky to know him since he was a little kid — family, we know each other — so I was able to get him to play for me. He’s a great kid on and off the ice. You can tell from his play, it’s paying off.

“What I always say is I think he has the ability to play in the pay-for-play league one day. Wherever it may be is up to him — NHL, AHL, East Coast.”